Weimann returns to haunt Derby as Cocu tastes first loss
Derby County 1 Marriott 85 Bristol City 2 Weimann 16, Brownhill 45 Att: 25,546
It was the wrong kind of first for Phillip Cocu as a night that could have ended with Derby top of the table instead brought the Dutchman a maiden loss as County manager.
While Derby try to put the Frank Lampard era behind them, they were defeated by another part of their past, with Andreas Weimann scoring the opening goal and facilitating the second as Bristol City registered a second straight win.
“He runs his heart out, he must have run about 13-14km,” said City manager Lee Johnson. “He has got his just rewards. But I don’t think he will take pride in it being Derby.”
When Weimann left County last year, he had scored nine goals in three seasons at Pride Park, a meagre return for such a fine finisher. He has already topped that tally for City and his second of the season showed his predatory streak. He latched on to Kasey Palmer’s mishit shot and turned away from goalkeeper Kelle Roos before finding the net.
His part in City’s second was wonderfully subtle. When Jack Hunt caught Scott Malone in possession and crossed, Weimann had the awareness to realise Josh Brownhill was accelerating into space behind him. He dummied and City’s stand-in skipper sidefooted his shot in.
“A costly start to the game,” said Cocu. “I don’t know why.” His Derby began by passing the ball around without penetration. But Cocu showed his tactical acumen at half-time, removing the hapless Malone, switching to a 3-4-3 and pinning City back. His first two substitutes combined for Derby’s first home goal of the season. Florian Jozefzoon found Jack Marriott, who span and unleashed an unstoppable shot. “Fantastic goal,” added Cocu. But rather than being first, they are 11th. “A very disappointing defeat,” he added. “Now we are in an average situation.”
Meanwhile, City are on the up. Johnson made 12 summer signings and they are starting to gel. The former Brentford goalkeeper Daniel Bentley produced terrific first-half saves and a vital injury-time stop. Tomas Kalas was defiant in defence, while the former Monaco teenager Han-noah Massengo brought energy to the midfield. They were watched by Ashley Williams, with the Wales captain potentially their 13th recruit. “His body fat is good,” Johnson added: “I said to him: ‘You are not on trial, but your hips are’.” Derby County